A RESEARCH PROJECT

ON
BIOACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS, FOOD PARTICLES AND BIOCHEMICAL
CHARACTERISTICS IN Crassostrea gasar, Isognomon ephippium, and Cardium costatum .

BY

ASUQUO, SAMUEL CLETUS

AK19/BGS/MAB/007

SUPERVISED BY: DR. ANIEFIOK INYANG

SUBMITTED TO

DEPARTMENT OF MARINE BIOLOGY

FACULTY OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AKWA IBOM STATE UNIVERSITY, IKOT AKPADEN

FEBRUARY, 2024
O U T L INE
INTRODUCTION
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
METHOD
RESULT
CONCLUSION
 INTRODUCTION
Estuaries are among the most productive and ecologically important environments, but they also rank
among the most contaminated (Kennish, 2005). Common contaminants found in estuaries include excess
metals, nutrients, organic matter, industrial chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, terrigenous sediments and
debris (Wolanski, 2014; Conrad et al., 2017; Laicher et al., 2022).
Bivalve mollusks, such as Crassostrea gasar, Isognomon ephippium, and Cardium costatum sp., (Páez-
Osuna and Osuna-Martínez, 2015) have been widely used as bioindicators for monitoring heavy metal
pollution in marine environments due to their filter-feeding behavior and ability to accumulate
contaminants (Kripa and Appukuttan, 2003).
Bivalve mollusks also accumulate food particles, including phytoplankton, bacteria, detritus, and other
organic matter present in their environment(Arifin & Bendell-Young, 1997). Evaluating the
composition and quantity of food particles in the digestive systems of Crassostrea gasar, Isognomon
ephippium, and Cardium costatum sp., Bergés-Tiznado et al. (2013) can help understand their ecological
roles as filter feeders and their interactions with their surrounding environment (Bray et al., 2015).
The biochemical characteristics of bivalve mollusks, such as enzymes, antioxidants, and biomarkers, can
serve as indicators of their health and physiological responses to environmental stressors (James et al.,
1993).
 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM
- The aim of the project is to investigate the bioaccumulation of heavy
metals, food particles, and biochemical characteristics in the oyster
(Crassostrea gasar, Isognomon ephippium, and Cardium costatum sp.)

OBJECTIVES
- To study the levels of heavy metal bioaccumulation in the selected
bivalves (Crassostrea gasar, Isognomon ephippium, and Cardium
costatum sp.,) in their natural environment.
- To analyze the food particles present in the bivalves species and their
role in the bioaccumulation process.
- To assess the biochemical characteristics of the oysters and their
relationship to heavy metal bioaccumulation.
 METHOD
Crassostrea gasar, Isognomon ephippium, and Cardium costatum sp., were
harvested in live condition from Okoroette estuary in Eastern Obolo L.G.A and
Iko creek at the estuary mouth. They were transported to the laboratory under
iced condition in insulated styrofoam boxes and were thoroughly washed to
remove slime and dirt. The surface water was collected also using bottle
sample, edible meat was separated from the shells and kept on ice for
immediate use. Oyster samples were analyzed during the dried season
(December 2023) for sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), Magnesium
(Mg), manganese (MN), ion (Fe), chromium (Cr), and selenium (Se).
The proximate analysis of moisture, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, and ash in the
study on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals, food particles, and biochemical
characteristics in Crassostrea gasar, Isognomon ephippium, and Cardium
costatum showed varying levels of each component in the bivalves species.
 RESULT
Crassostrea gasar, Isognomon ephippium, and Cardium costatum sp.
has revealed the following chemical composition: water (∼82%),
protein (∼10%), fat (3.25%), carbohydrate (3.2%) and ash (1.01%).
The main constituent of oyster flesh is water, which is tightly bound
to the proteins in the structure in such a way that it cannot readily be
expelled even under high pressure and is an index of freshness
(Murray and Burt, 2001).
The ash content in oyster is slightly lower than in fish species. Trace
metals like Se, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe act as cofactors for enzymatic
reactions in intermediary metabolism (Flemming, 1989) and Fe is an
integral part of haemoglobin (Hb) which is essential for
oxygenation–deoxygenation cycle of Hb. These minerals are present
at significantly high levels in Crassostrea gasar, Isognomon
ephippium, and Cardium costatum sp.
 Crassostrea gasar, Isognomon ephippium, and Cardium
costatum sp., are comparable to fin fish with respect to their
O N nutritional attributes with their protein being of high quality
S I and their lipids being a good source of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids.
L U
N C The high levels of essential amino acids will make them a
O good food source in complementing cereals for weaning foods.
C Their high utilisable energy due to protein will prevent
protein-energy malnutrition in their consumers. Thus it might
be considered as a kind of aquatic food with high protein and
low healthy fat. Biochemical composition and nutritional
attributes of bivalves may prove important for formulations of
nutraceuticals and future policies regarding exploitation of this
specie and for inducing favourable changes in consumer
preferences.
THANK YOU